Help
Does the iPhone have an IR blaster?
No. iPhones have no infrared (IR) blaster, so an iPhone remote app can only control smart TVs connected to your home network.
Which TVs this rules out
- TVs without Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Smart TVs that are not connected to the network.
- Some older smart TVs whose network remote protocol we do not support.
What about a streaming stick?
If you plug a Google TV or Android TV streamer into an older TV, Simple TV Remote controls the streamer. Volume works only if the streamer can control the TV’s volume over HDMI-CEC.
Questions
Does the iPhone have an IR blaster?
No. No iPhone model has an infrared (IR) blaster, so an iPhone can’t send the same signal as a plastic TV remote. iPhone remote apps control TVs over Wi-Fi instead.
Which iPhone has an IR blaster?
None of them. That includes every model from the original iPhone to the latest one. Some Android phones have one; iPhones never have.
Can a TV remote app on iPhone work without Wi-Fi?
Not on its own. Without an IR blaster, an iPhone app has to reach the TV over your home network. The TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi or router as your iPhone.
Which TVs can an iPhone control then?
Smart TVs on your home network whose system allows phone control. Simple TV Remote works with Google TV and Android TV, LG webOS, Samsung Tizen (2016 and later), Vizio SmartCast, Panasonic and Roku TVs.
Can I add an IR blaster to my iPhone?
Small plug-in IR adapters and Wi-Fi-to-IR hubs exist, but they need their own apps. Simple TV Remote doesn’t use them; it works over Wi-Fi with smart TVs.
What about an older TV without Wi-Fi?
Plug a Google TV streamer, like Chromecast with Google TV or the Google TV Streamer, into the TV. Your iPhone can then control the streamer, and volume works if the TV supports HDMI-CEC.
More help
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